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Our lunchtime series with pianist Howard Shelley is back and better than ever. This year, we’re turning our attention to the (17)80s classics when Mozart was at the top of his game in Vienna, composing reams of piano concertos for the finest instrumentalists of the day. Make the most of your lunch-hour with a Viennese whirlwind of music and insightful introductions as Howard plays 6 of these concertos in St Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge.

Darker, moodier and more brooding than the Mozart we’re familiar with, the Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor was one of only two minor concertos he ever wrote. And yet this was what so many of Mozart’s successors loved about it. In the years after Mozart’s death in 1791, popular tastes changed. With the rise of Romanticism, people wanted music to be emotional, tense and sublime. Much of Mozart’s lighter and more playful music suffered from neglect, but this proto-Romantic concerto never went out of style. It had fans in Beethoven, Brahms and Clara Schumann—and you don’t get more legendary than that.

Since you’ll be in the area, why not pre-book lunch at the Alfred Tennyson pub and restaurant which is just three minutes away? They’ll offer you a free drink (wine, Prosecco or beer) with a pre-booked meal, as long as you show proof of ticket purchase.

If you are a student, then you can get our ‘Education’ tickets for £10. Please bring suitable ID with you on the day to show at the door. All tickets can be bought on the door as well, as well as over the phone and online.

Our lunchtime series with pianist Howard Shelley is back and better than ever. This year, we’re turning our attention to the (17)80s classics when Mozart was at the top of his game in Vienna, composing reams of piano concertos for the finest instrumentalists of the day. Make the most of your lunch-hour with a Viennese whirlwind of music and insightful introductions as Howard plays 6 of these concertos in St Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge.

Mozart wrote Piano Concerto No. 18 for his friend Maria Theresia von Paradis. Blind by the age of 5, Paradis became one of the most famous pianists of her day, a sensation in Vienna and the rest of Europe. Her father was Austria’s Secretary of Commerce; Paradis herself was taught by Antonio Salieri and commissioned music from Joseph Haydn. The history of this Piano Concerto offers a glimpse into the tight-knit musical circles of Vienna, as well as shining a light on how close musicians were to centres of power and influence.

Since you’ll be in the area, why not pre-book lunch at the Alfred Tennyson pub and restaurant which is just three minutes away? They’ll offer you a free drink (wine, Prosecco or beer) with a pre-booked meal, as long as you show proof of ticket purchase.

If you are a student, then you can get our ‘Education’ tickets for £10. Please bring suitable ID with you on the day to show at the door. All tickets can be bought on the door as well, as well as over the phone and online.

Montgomery Starburst
Barber Adagio for Strings
Copland Appalachian Spring
Copland A Quiet City
Barber Violin Concerto
Júlia Pusker violin
Geoffrey Paterson conductor

Our lunchtime series with pianist Howard Shelley is back and better than ever. This year, we’re turning our attention to the (17)80s classics when Mozart was at the top of his game in Vienna, composing reams of piano concertos for the finest instrumentalists of the day. Make the most of your lunch-hour with a Viennese whirlwind of music and insightful introductions as Howard plays 6 of these concertos in St Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge.

Concertos are pieces performed by a soloist and an orchestra, but Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 17 in G had an unlikely third collaborator. As the legend goes, Mozart got the melody for the third movement from his pet starling. We don’t know if the starling was compensated for his work or just paid in exposure, but Mozart certainly prized its musical talent – which is quite something, coming from him.

Fancy a discount? Book all 6 concerts in one go and we’ll only charge you for the price of 5.

Since you’ll be in the area, why not pre-book lunch at the Alfred Tennyson pub and restaurant which is just three minutes away? They’ll offer you a free drink (wine, Prosecco or beer) with a pre-booked meal, as long as you show proof of ticket purchase.

If you are a student, then you can get our ‘Education’ tickets for £10. Please bring suitable ID with you on the day to show at the door.

Vaughan Williams Sun, Moon, Stars and Man
Ola Gjeilo Song of the Universal
Vaughan Williams Serenade to Music
London Mozart Players
St Martin’s Voices
Andrew Earis conductor

Haydn Symphony No. 55 in E flat ‘The Schoolmaster’
Mozart Clarinet Concerto
Mozart Symphony No. 40 in G minor
Michael Collins clarinet
Simon Blendis director

Mozart Oboe Concerto
Mozart Violin Concerto no.3
Mozart Symphony no.29
Chris Vettraino oboe
Ruth Rogers leader

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Building on our tradition of supporting young artists, we are joined by the winner of Croydon Performing Arts Festival (CPAF), oboist Chris Vettraino. CPAF is one of the largest performing-arts festivals in the country and attracts more than 1000 performers each year in western music, South Asian music, dance, south Asian dance, speech and drama.

We can’t deny that Mozart was a prodigy. Having only 35 years on the earth didn’t stop him from writing an incredible amount of music in a whole variety of genres, on top of being somewhat of a party animal (so we’re told). In today’s concert, Chris stars as the soloist for Mozart’s Oboe Concerto, a piece written to showcase the playful nature of the instrument, our leader, Ruth Rogers, takes the stage for Mozart’s adventurous Violin Concerto and the orchestra come together for his Symphony no.29.

At the heart of our residency at St John’s is a mission to inspire the younger generation and allow as many people as possible to hear our music. By purchasing one of our £25 tickets, you are enabling a student, or person who is not normally able to attend, the chance to come to our concert and enjoy the night free of charge. You’ll also receive a glass of prosecco and reserved seating free of charge.

Corelli Christmas Concerto
Once in Royal David’s City
Strauss Blue Danube
Strauss Pizzicato Polka
Vivaldi ‘Winter’ from The Four Seasons
The First Nowell
Hark the Herald
Handel ‘Pifa’ from Messiah
Ding Dong Merrily on High
Shepherds Pipe Carol
Tchaikovsky ‘March’ and ‘Waltz of the Flowers’ from The Nutcracker
O Come All Ye Faithful
Anderson Sleigh Ride
Ruth Rogers director
Croydon Bach Choir
Musicians from Cypress School

Whether you love traditional carols, wintery songs or just fancy a mulled wine and a mince pie, head on over to Crystal Palace for our Christmassy concert. Full of the music we all turn to at this time of year, this fun and informal concert will be a wonderful opportunity for families and friends to gather at St John the Evangelist to get in the Christmas spirit.